News

EU, India to deepen cooperation in ICT sector

EU, India to deepen cooperation in ICT sector.

EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding, will embark on a four-day visit to India, her second in less than three years, a sign of growing EU-India cooperation in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). “The purpose of the visit is to learn about the progress of India in terms of technology and in terms of media,” Reding told EuAsiaNews in an interview in Brussels. Reding, who is in charge of policy, regulatory and research matters in the fields of Information and Communication Technology and Media including audio-visual industries in the European Commission, last visited India in November 2005. India’s role in the ICT sector “is very important because it is developing very quickly. India is also gearing up its education in order to have highly skilled work force and India is a huge market,” she stressed. “So those three elements will be of outmost importance for a close collaboration than before in the future between Europe and India,” noted the EU Commissioner. Reding has a very busy schedule during her stay in Mumbai and New Delhi from March 24-27. She is expected to meet in New Delhi with Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, Indian Minister of Information and Broadcasting; Andimuthu Raja, Minister of Communications and Information Technology; Motek Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman Planning Commission; and Sam Pitroda, Chairman Knowledge Commission. Reding will deliver a speech at the opening of the Frames Annual Media Congress and meet with Asim Ghosh, CEO Vodafone Essar, and with Subramaniam Ramadorai, Managing Director Tata Consultancy during her visit to Mumbai. She will also hold meetings with members of Information Technology Committee of Confederation of Indian Industry; with Som Mittal, President of National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM); and with members of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India in New Delhi.